Treating of fibrous materials



Dec. 5, 1967 P. VORISEK TREATING OF FIBROUS MATERIALS Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 21, 1967 Dec. 5, 1967 P. VORISEK 3,355,859

TREATING OF FIBRQUS MATERIALS Filed Feb. 21, 1967 23 Sheets Sheet 2United States Patent 3,355,869 TREATING 0F FIBROUS MATERIALS PremyslVorisek, Chocen, Czechoslovakia, assignor to Vyzkumny ustav bavlnarsky,Usti, nad Orlici, Czecho- Slovakia Filed Feb. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 618,301Claims priority, application Czechoslovakia, Feb. 24, 1966, 1,223/66Claims. (Cl. 57--58.95)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rotary carding roller having a cylindricalperipheral surface, two feed arragements for respectively supplyingfibrous sliver onto the surface of the carding roller, two

Cross-references to related applications A rotary spinning chamber ofthe type discussed hereafter is disclosed in the copending applicationof Miloslav Kubovy et =al., Ser. No. 598,275, and entitled Device forGuiding Yarn and filed on Dec. 1, 1966. This application is assigned tothe same assignee as the present application.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to thetreating of fibrous material in general, more particularly to thetreating of fibrous material in continuous ringless spinning of suchmaterial. i K

The continuous ringless spinning of fibrous materials utilizes spinningchambers which rotate about a vertical ,axis of rotation and which havean inner peripheral surface onto which oriented fibers, obtainedbycarding fibrous sliver, are fed in a continuous stream. Under theinfluence of centrifugal action the fibers are deposited on the surfacein form of a. cohesive ribbon which can be withdrawn, usually in thedirection of the axis of rotation of the spinning chamber, in form of ayarn. A spinning chamber of this typeis, for instance, described in theabove-mentioned copending application of M. Kubovy et al., Ser. No.598,275. Spinning chambers for the continuous ringless spinning ,offibrous material arein the prior art each associated with a cardingroller which cards the sliver, that is which separates thefibers of thesliver and orients them preparatoryto their deposition in form of acontinuous stream .onto the inner peripheral surface of the spinningchamber.

-Of course, the carding roller a'lone'is not sufficient for this.purpose, since additional mechanisms such as feed roller. andsupporting equipment are used for supplying the sliver to the cardingroller and for rotating the carding roller, controlling its speed ofrotation, and other func- ,tions. Thus, such arrangements are relativelyelaborate and therefore-also relatively expensive. In fact, arrangementsof this type which are known from the prior art are actuallyeven moreexpensive than would appear at first sight because. each of the cardingor combing rollers thus provided is very inefficiently utilized. Thiswill be understood if it. is considered that the sliver is fed intoengagement with the surface of the roller at one point "ice thereof andthat it is removed from the surface of the roller, after having beencombed or carded, as soon as this point of the surface of the roller hasbeen ang-ularly displaced through degrees, and sometimes even less.Thus, no more than approximately a quarter of the available surface ofthe carding roller is used, a utilization which is extremelyinefficient.

Summary of the invention The present invention overcomes theabove-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

More particularly, the present invention provides an arrangement inwhich the available circumferential surface of a cardinginstrumentality, particularly a carding roller is utilized with a highdegree of efiiciency.

Still more particularly, the present invention provides an arrangementwherein a single carding instrumentality, such as a carding or combingroller, can serve at least two rotary spinning chambers for supplyingoriented fibers thereto.

In accordance with one feature of my invention, I provide an apparatusfor treating fibrous material comprising carding means which isoperative for converting fibrous sliver into oriented fibers. Associatedwith the carding means is a plurality of feeds arranged for respectivelysupplying sliver to the carding means. There is further provided aplurality of spinning means each of which are associated with one of thefeeds and which are arranged to receive oriented fibers obtained fromsliver supplied by the respective feed. Detector means is provided andis associated with the respective spinning means for detecting breakageof yarn issuing therefrom. Finally, arresting means is provided, sucharresting means being operatively connected with the detector means andwith the respective feeds and being responsive to signals produced bythe detector means for the purpose of arresting the supply of sliver byany of the aforementioned feeds in response to breakage of the yarnwhich issues from the spinning means associated with such feed.

Thus, it will be clear that if the yarn of any one or several of the.spinning chambers breaks, this will be sensed by the associateddetector means and the latter will, in turn, arrest operation of thefeed or feeds associated with the spinning chamber or chambers, whereasthe supply of fibers continues uninterruptedly via the remaining feedsand the carding means to such rotary spinning chambers whose detectormeans have: not indicated any yarn breakage. In other words, if one ormore of the spinning. chambers must be temporarily shut down, theassociated fiber feeds can be similarly shut down without any necessityfor stopping operation of the carding means and, consequently, withoutany need for, stopping operation of the remaining rotary spinningchambers,

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a vertical sectionalelevation of a device embodying my invention; and 7 FIG. 2 is aside-elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

Description of the preferred embodiment Discussing now the drawing indetail, it will be seen that there is provided a housing which isgenerally indicated with reference numeral 1 and which is provided withan inner chamber wherein there is arranged a combing or carding roller 3which is fixedly mounted on a rotary drive shaft 2 and which can thus berotated in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 1. The outercircumferential surface of the carding roller 3 is of cylindrical crosssection and is provided with a great number of outwardly projectingneedles or other suitable projections indicated with reference numeral4. It will be understood that these needles 4, when they engage thefibrous sliver, serve to comb or card the same so as to orient thefibers thereof preparatory to introduction of the same into a rotaryspinning chamber.

The housing 1 is provided with an outlet channel 5 and, diametrallyopposite the outlet channel 5, with a similar outlet channel 5. Each ofthe outlet channels 5, 5 extends into the inlet of a respective rotaryspinning chamber 9, 9' and these spinning chambers are respectivelyprovided with guide surfaces 7, 7 which extend to and terminate atcollecting surfaces 8, 8'. Each of the spinning chambers 9, 9 is furtherprovided with one or more exhaust passages 10, 10 and with a tubularshank, respectively designated with reference numerals 12 and 12', whichare supported in respective bearings 11, 11 for rotation therein. In theillustrated embodiment the rotary spinning chambers 9, 9' are arrangedon diametrally opposite sides of the carding roller 3 so that theyrotate about an axis which is common to both. A stationaryyarn-withdrawing tube 13, 13' is provided in the respective spinningchambers 9, 9 and passes through the respective hollow shanks 12, 12'.

Downstream of the respective spinning chambers the yarn 16, 16 beingwithdrawn from the respective chambers passes between a set ofpositively driven withdrawing rollers, identified in the case ofspinning chamber 9 with reference numeral 14 and, in the case ofspinning chamber 9, with reference numeral 14. The rollers 14, 14 rotatein mutually opposite directions as indicated by the respective arrows.

The yarn 16, 16' being withdrawn by these sets of rollers 14 and 14' ischecked for breakage by yarn detectors 15 in the case of the yarn 16,and 15' in the case of the yarn 16. After passing the respectivedetectors 15, 15 the yarn is then wound onto bobbins 17 and 17,respectively.

Located in a recess of the housing 1 which is upstream of the rotaryspinning chamber 9 is a feed roller 19 which is driven, via a suitableclutch 20, by a drive means 21 of any well known type. The clutch iscontrolled by an impulse device 22 which in turn is operativelyconnected with the yarn-breakage detector 15 so that, when the latterdetects a breakage in the yarn 16, the signal generated by the detector15 will cause the impulse device 22 to disengage the clutch 20' so as tothereby interrupt drive of the feed roller 19 in the absence of yarn 16.A funnel-shaped inlet 24 discharges into a clearance established betweenthe outer circumferential surface of the feed roller 19 and thesurrounding wall of the housing 1 and sliver 25 which is fed into theinlet 24, passes into the clearance 23 wherein it is conveyed by thefeed roller to pass into engagement with the teeth 4 of the cardingroller 3 so that the fibers of the sliver 25 are then separated andoriented. Such separation and orientation takes place during passage ofthe fibrous material from the feed roller 19 to the outlet 5 which itleaves in form of a stream 6 of oriented fibers. Of course, the shapeand length of this path between the feed roller 19 and the outlet 5 mustbe so chosen as to insure satisfactory separation of the fibers.

A sensing, coupling and impulse-providing arrangement similar to thatjust described in conjunction with feed roller 19 is also provided inconjunction with a second feed roller 19' which is also arranged in arecess of housing 1, such recess for the feed roller 19 being locateddownstream of the rotary spinning chamber 9 but upstream of the rotaryspinning chamber 9'. The elements of this arrangement associated withthe feed roller 19' are identified with reference numerals identicalwith those used to identify the elements associated with feed roller 19,but are each provided with a prime.

It will be understood that the stream 6 of oriented fibers can beseparated from the surface of carding roller 3 in various ways, whichare of no consequence in connection with the present invention, butwhich may primarily include the suction effect which is obtained whenair is exhausted from the interior of the respective rotary spinningchambers 9, 9' through the exhaust passages 10, 10' thereof. If some ofthe fibers should nevertheless pass beyond the respective outlets 5, 5'and not be doifed, then they will pass on to the next-following outlet,that is if they have passed the outlet 5 they will move onto the outlet5, and will then be added to the stream of fibers which enters into thespinning chamber associated with that particular outlet.

In case the yarn 16 or 16 should break, the feed roller 19 or 19'associated with the respective spinning chamber is stopped, so that nofurther sliver and thus no further fibrous material passes onto thesurface of the carding roller 3 for being conveyed to the spinningchamber whose yarn has broken, whereas the supply of sliver and therebyof oriented fibers to the other spinning chamber, whose yarn is notbroken, continues without interruption. Thus, the number of cardingrollers which was heretofore necessary is reduced at least by one-half;that is, two spinning chambers can be serviced by a single cardingroller with the resultant economies of manufacture and of operation.

It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited tothe utilization of only two spinning chambers with their associated feedand control arrangements. Rather, a greater number of spinning chambersand associated control arrangements can be provided if desired tothereby utilize the circumferential surface of the carding roller evenmore fully. Also, it is conceivable to use another type of cardinginstrumentality instead of a carding roller, and all such modificationsare intended to be encompassed by the protection sought herein.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofapparatus for treating a fibrous material differing from the typesdescribed above.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:

1. Apparatus for treating fibrous material, comprising, in combination,carding means operative for converting fibrous sliver into orientedfibers; a plurality of feeds arranged for respectively supplying sliverto said carding means; a plurality of spinning means each associatedwith one of said feeds and arranged to receive oriented fibers obtainedfrom sliver supplied by said one feed; detector means associated withthe respective spinning means for detecting breakage of yarn issuingtherefrom; and arresting means operatively connected with said detectormeans and the respective feeds and responsive to signals produced bysaid detector means, for arresting the supply of sliver by a feed inresponse to breakage of the yarn issuing from the spinning meansassociated with said feed.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said carding means comprisesa rotary carding roller.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said carding roller has acylindrical circumferential working surface, and wherein said pluralityof feeds includes a first and a second feed arranged for supplyingsliver onto said Working surface at a pair of points spaced angularlywith reference to the circumference of said roller.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said spinning means includesa plurality of rotary spinning chambers.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said spinning means includesa plurality of rotary spinning chambers each arranged to rotate about anaxis normal to the axis of rotation of said rotary carding roller, andeach having an inlet proximal to said circumferential working surfacethereof.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said plurality of spinningchambers includes a first and a second spinning chamber respectivelyassociated with said zfirst and second feed, and wherein said inlets ofsaid first and second spinning chambers are angularly spaced from theassociated feed and located downstream thereof, so that sliver suppliedby the associated feed and converted into oriented fibers by saidcarding roller is supplied to the respcctive spinning chamber inresponse to rotation of said carding roller.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said detector means includestwo detectors each associated with one of said spinning chambersdownstream thereof for detecting breakage of yarn issuing therefrom.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said feeds each comprise afeed roller and a drive for rotating said feed roller about an axis ofrotation.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim. 8, wherein said arresting meansincludes actuating means operatively associated with the respectivedetector and the respective associated drive for arresting the latter inresponse to receiving a signal from the respective detector indicatingyarn breakage at the spinning chamber associated with the respectivedrive.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said drives each includeclutch means, and wherein said actuating means is arranged to disengagethe respective clutch means in response to receiving a signal from therespective detector.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,911,783 11/ 1959 Gotzfried57-5895 1,307,477 10/1963 Meimberg 57-58.95 XR 3,330,008 7/1967 Schuller5758.91 XR FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

W. H. SCHROEDER, Assistant Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBROUS MATERIAL, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION,CARDING MEANS OPERATIVE FOR CONVERTING FIBROUS SLIVER INTO ORIENTEDFIBERS; A PLURALITY OF FEEDS ARRANGED FOR RESPECTIVELY SUPPLYING SLIVERTO SAID CARDING MEANS; A PLURALITY OF SPINNING MEANS EACH ASSOCIATEDWITH ONE OF SAID FEEDS AND ARRANGED TO RECEIVE ORIENTED FIBERS OBTAINEDFROM SLIVER SUPPLIED BY SAID ONE FEED; DETECTOR MEANS ASSOCIATED WITHTHE RESPECTIVE SPINNING MEANS FOR DETECTING BREAKAGE OF YARN ISSUINGTHEREFROM; AND ARRESTING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID DETECTORMEANS AND THE RESPECTIVE FEEDS AND RESPONSIVE TO SIGNALS PRODUCED BYSAID DETECTOR MEANS, FOR ARRESTING THE SUPPLY OF SLIVER BY A FEED INRESPONSE TO BREAKAGE OF THE YARN ISSUING FROM THE SPINNING MEANSASSOCIATED WITH SAID FEED.